Specialist teams used ground-penetrating radar equipment, examined drains and dug holes as they hunted for clues into what happened to Madeleine, who went missing when she was three-years-old from the nearby Ocean Club resort apartment in May 2007.

Cordons around the area of land in the Algarve holiday resort were removed last night.

Officers have shifted their equipment, and attention, to another spot just a few yards away Credit: ITV News

British police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. from Rothley in Leicestershire, have focussed their attention on a new patch of scrubland in Praia da Luz.

The search, which has entered its fifth day, is close to where Madeleine went missing in Portugal seven years ago. Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, said in a statement earlier that they are 'encouraged' by the progress police have made.

Kate and Gerry McCann have released a statement Credit: John Stillwell/PA Wire/Press Association Images

As Police continue to carry out investigations on an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing in Portugal seven years ago, her parents have released the following statement on their Facebook page:

"We would like to ask people to refrain from spreading rumours and speculation based on inaccurate press reporting. We are kept updated on the on-going work in Portugal and are encouraged by the progress...

...Thank you for continuing to stand by us and supporting our efforts to get Madeleine home.

The parents of Madeleine McCann have said they were feeling "encouraged" by this week's events, as British police carry out investigations on an area of scrubland close to where she went missing in Portugal.

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Tourists and locals in the Praia Da Luz holiday resort in Portugal have described the negative impact of the latest search for Madeleine McCann, as police have applied to extend their examination of wasteland near where she vanished in 2007.

Locals and tourists in the Praia Da Luz holiday resort in Portugal say the latest search has had a negative effect. Credit: PA

One hotelier said many of her guests had cancelled this week and called the case "catastrophic" for business.

Lucilia Matos, who has run the Aurora Sol guest house for the past 12 years, said only four of her 20 rooms were occupied, and three of those were taken up by journalists.